McKegney, a Montreal native who was raised in Sarnia by his adoptive family, was drafted by the Sabres with the 32nd overall pick in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Sorry we could not verify that email address. The funny thing is that Im starting to enjoy the game more than I ever have, he said. If you said Tony McKegney, you are correct. I pride myself in being maybe the first black player to play consistently in the league, McKegney said. Jarome told me that he felt comfortable at the school yard because he could point to me and say, "Look, Tony McKegney's playing in the NHL.". Want to more about Him? We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. "I believe if he wasn't a black individual he would have played [more] in the NHL. Theres another occasion where Ray Neufeld and I got into a scuffle. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. And I'll always be proud of the 40-goal season I had in 1987-88, the wonderful camaraderie of that Blues team, and the little chip-in that somehow found its way into the net. Thats basically what got me where I am today., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. I just pushed the stereotypes to the background and kept hockey in the forefront. Contents 1 Playing Career 2 Post-Playing Career 3 Career Statistics 4 Accolades 5 Personal Life Playing Career As of 2018 Tony McKegney is 59 years years old. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. But I think sports probably helped a lot, because we were known as athletes and so forth. If I could be half the man my father was, Id be doing pretty well, he said. Playing hockey at a high level is difficult enough without navigating the pressures of racism in society or figuring out how to respond to the supposed "fan" with a sign that says, "McKegney, grab a basketball" behind the Zamboni entrance. SN: Was there a brotherhood among the black players in the league? People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.". Sometimes what has been said in the past is that once hes established he doesnt produce as much. Saunders was the third highest-scorer at training camp. It was never published. I wanted to be the best, that was a driving force. Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. He believes his call up was a reward for his performance in the minors. TM: No, not really. McKegney recalls no special obstacles for him or his two adoptive brothers, who are also black, as they were growing up with a racially mixed family in a city of 50,000. I went to [Daley] and said, Hey, how are you doing and how are you feeling? I just wanted to reach out and say, Been there, just keep at it. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2023. "We just felt like other Canadian boys and wanted to play hockey.". By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. McKegney needed less than a season to join Buffalo during the 1978-79 campaign. (Tony) McKegney will need to be working on his paddle stroke or riding as a passenger. Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey League, Bienvenue LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockey, Tervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiin, Vlkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sida, Vtejte na NHL.com, oficilnch strnkch National Hockey League, Vitajte na NHL.com, oficilnych strnkach National Hockey League, Willkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey League, Bienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League. Lightning. Keep reading with unlimited digital access. Because you never forget scoring 40 in one year. Today, Tony McKegney, the first Black player to score 40 goals in an NHL season, tells his story of overcoming racial bias and serving as inspiration for Jarome Iginla, the only other Black player to hit the 40-goal milestone. The second person to achieve (and ultimately surpass) this milestone? Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. In retrospect, I can now see how it was an important milestone for people who look like me: No Black player had ever scored 40 goals in a season not until that game against Winnipeg, where a little chip-in ended up making history. Most of his limited NHL experience came with Buffalo; he also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Flyers and their AHL affiliate. There were a few other (skaters) that were sort of up and down.. He even scored 40 goals for St. Louis in 1987-88. And between the benches, one of the guys said it would be termed as a black-on-black crime. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. His first encounter with racism happened while he was playing junior hockey after his family moved to Ajax, Ont., during his senior year of high school. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. I was too timid to talk to a girl. When he left, he was the all-time leading scorer. tony mckegney family https://iccleveland.org/wp-content/themes/icc/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg 150 150 ICC ICC https://iccleveland.org/wp-content/themes/icc/images . To me, there is no better example of such a player than Tony McKegney, who played 13 seasons in the NHL and was the first star of colour. A year later, the left winger was ready to join the pros. Two years ago, when he scored 15 times and had 25 assists, was the only season he scored fewer than 23 goals or compiled fewer than 45 points. Bailey, who is biracial, currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks and is in his second season with the organization. I relied on the support of my teammates who were always there for me. His older brother John was the first to lace up skates. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. In Tony's second stint in Quebec, he played in 98 games for the team until January 29, 1991 when he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Jacques Cloutier. SN: What were the conversations like with your parents about it? Since then, he has played for five NHL teams - Buffalo, Quebec, Minnesota, New York and St. Louis - scoring a career-high 37 goals in 1980-81. Tony McKegney (born Anthony Syiid McKegney on February 15, 1958) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, who played in the NHL for 13 seasons from 1978-79 until 1990-91. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. *I understand that I may withdraw my consent at any time. 710K subscribers Tony McKegney is one of the pioneers of breaking the colour barrier within the NHL. As a teenager he played Jr. 'B' hockey in Sarnia. I've always been a player that plays on enthusiasm, and I was just losing my zest for the game.". They're too neat; too objective. Akim Aliu hasnt had the same ability to bounce back from his difficult treatment in the game. There were three future Hall of Famers who made us all better. ago] Height 6.01 -- Weight 200 [185 cm/91 kg] Drafted by Buffalo Sabres - round 2 #32 overall 1978 NHL Amateur Draft Regular Season Playoffs; And my teammates treated me like I was not any different than anybody. Bassin knew Saunders was getting racist taunts, but said Saunders always handled it in stride and never let it get to him. He continued to score despite playing no more than three seasons with the same team for the rest of his career. "I could not imagine [why] this guy wasn't given a better opportunity," Bassin said. Years later, I found out I was one of the reasons why. While in Minnesota, he joined the late John Mariucci and Cal Peterson to form an inner-city hockey league for youths. It seemed very normal to me, and no one in our neighborhood or city really treated us any different, he said. Pioneers like Willie O'Ree, Angela James and Grant Fuhr will be featured. Draft: Buffalo, 2nd round (32nd overall), 1978 NHL Amateur. 6-0 , 200lb (183cm, 90kg) Born: February 15 , 1958 (Age: 64-344d) in Montreal, Quebec ca. So Bassin gave him that chance. It's the number of Black players who have ever scored 40 goals in an NHL season. I was scared to say a peep in class. "I could deal with it individually, but to see my son go through it was just overwhelming.". Sabres Send Asplund to Nashville for 7th Rounder, 2023 NHL Trade Deadline: Open Thread & How To Watch. Important: An official team/league url or a team document must be provided for us to update player stats. Even reporters, players were coming up to me saying, 'What's going on, Bernie?'". It certainly didn't add up when I was moving to St. Louis before the start of the season. There weren't many black players in the junior league at the time. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 . Taking into account various assets, Sue's net worth is greater than $50,000 - $99,999; and makes between $20 - 29,999 a year. The focus was just on playing hockey. I think his biggest value to our club has been his ability to score, Blues coach Jacques Martin said. My first time playing against another black hockey player was probably my third year in the NHL, Grant Fuhr and Ray Neufeld. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Jarome Iginla. We use cookies to improve your experience. He was a 4x 30-goal scorer and set career highs in 1988 with 40 goals and 78 points. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. McKegney was arrested June 23 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal contempt on July 8, according to court records. You reached out to him afterwards. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. He played four games with the Nordiques at the end of the 1979-80 season, the team's first season in the NHL. TM: Its wonderful. That's how good he was.". He would play 23 games with the San Diego Gulls in 1992-93 before retiring. He was told teams were interested in trading for him, but the Nordiques didn't let him go. I didnt talk to many people about it. The next day, the other team's coach called to apologize for what had happened, which Saunders found promising a sign that things were changing, albeit slowly. He jumped to the AHL's Hershey. Get the best of our NHL coverage and exclusives delivered directly to your inbox! "It was just time. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. He decided to sign as a free agent with the Nordiques because he felt they would give him the best opportunity to play right away plus, he would be reunited with Demers. Unlimited access for the whole family until Feb 21. of 1 That was my first exposure, to have a hockey rink in my backyard. "I was incredulous. TM: He brought up a lot of memories for me, ugly memories. In fact, I think their parents were thinking about saying, Look, why dont you just go play soccer, because it was so bad as far as the remarks. We celebrate Willie ORee, the first black player in the NHL, and maybe mention Mike Marson, who was the second, then the conversation shifts all the way to the unprecedented diversity we see in the game today. There hadnt been many blacks in the NHL when he arrived, but hopefully his talent made quite a few people color-blind. By checking this box, I agree to the terms of service and privacy policy of Rogers Media. The year after he graduated, he had offers from a few teams. After playing for 15 years professionally, it was a hard transition and Im sure Ive made some mistakes and would do some things differently. Then he was dealt to the Nordiques in a massive swap involving Quebecs Real Cloutier. But I had a rink in my backyard, my own playground. He was released on his own recognizance by City Court. After completing the 1990-91 season with the Chicago Blackhawks, Tony would spend a season in Italy with HC Varese as well as three games with the Canadian National Team. After scoring 36 goals for the Sabres in 1982-83, McKegney was traded to the Quebec Nordiques. "I literally got through the game, went into this closet, and I just cried. Bernie Saunders played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques, but he and others say his career would have been longer if he wasnt black. He was a role model." Embed from Getty Images Getty Images Sport Graig Abel Sue maintains relationships with many people -- family, friends, associates, & neighbors -- including Daniel Mckegney, Daniel Mckegney, Marilynn Habberfie, Roger Habberfield and Tony Mckegney. Tony McKegney weighed 200 lbs (90 kg) when playing. I don't talk much about the taunts and racial slurs I faced in youth and minor hockey. I'd been chasing that red light since I started playing hockey at 3 years old. That year, he also played against a team from Birmingham, Ala. His first game there, team executives told him he might be shot, so he went into the arena with extra protection. Get access to our unique free agency lists and many more premium features. Continue reading to discover who is Tony McKegney. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Economics and demographics - there are far fewer blacks in his native Canada than in the United States - still keep blacks from following him to the pro ranks. Height, Weight & Physical Stats: Tony McKegney is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weight 90.7 kilograms. Enter Search Term. Until we get rinks in the inner (American) cities, I dont think thats going to change.. It was my 10th season in the League, and I'd gotten more comfortable over time. Tony was born on February 15, 1958 in Montreal, Quebec.. Tony is one of the famous and trending celeb who is popular for being a Ice Hockey. Today, were giving a quick shoutout to former Buffalo Sabres forward Justin Bailey. McKegney scored 37 goals in 1980-81. I was the second to be adopted, McKegney, a St. Louis Blues forward, said of the white family in Sarnia, Ontario, he became part of before he was 1 year old. Saunders doesn't want to come off as someone lamenting what could have been. He has three 30-goal seasons. When submitting content, please abide by our, Hockey Night in Canada: Senators vs. Blue Jackets on Sportsnet, Watch Hockey Night in Canada with Steve Dangle: Oilers vs. He sat down with Donnovan Bennett to discuss the struggles, success and lessons that came. McKegney vividly recalls the support from his parents - Lowry McKegney, a retired chemist, and Cathy McKegney. There were five centermen on that team who were great passers, and when you're playing with so many good centermen, you're going to get chances every game. I just felt defeated," he said. He is a member of famous with the age 63 years old group. Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments. Tony McKegney is an Ice Hockey Player who was born on February 15, 1958 in Canada. Looking back on his incredible career and contribution, McKegney shared with me the pleasure, pain and purpose hockey brought to his life. The coach noticed Saunderscrying in the stands, wanting to be with John, and invited him to play, too. While in Chteauguay, he played for Jacques Demers, who went on to coach the Nordiques and Montreal Canadiens. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. TM: I heard some stories about the tough guys like George Laraque, Peter Worrell and Donald Brashear, and apparently it was absolutely brutal for those guys in Quebec. Take control of your EliteProspects profile! The goal is to make stereotypes disappear by making people from all backgrounds feel welcome, celebrated, and empowered on an equal playing field. When he was still a toddler, his family moved to the Toronto area. Check out the Black Girl Hockey Club, a non-profit organization that focuses on making hockey more inclusive for Black women, their family, friends and allies. But he was reassigned to the minors. He was following in the footsteps of his older brother Ian, who had been a star with the Sarnia Legionnaires before moving on to the pros. TM: We just sort of stayed away from it. Get all the latest stats, news, videos and more on Tony McKegney That's the biggest compliment for me.". After leaving the NHL, he had a long, successful career in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. SN: What were the conversations like between you and your brother about the abuse he faced? And obviously we watched the games, the Leafs and the Red Wings on TV back in the six-team league. Of his 13 years in the NHL, he spent the most time with the Sabres. I wanted to be as good as my brothers. So that support carried over all the negative stuff that happened. Forward Born Feb 15 1958 -- Montreal, PQ [65 yrs. I feel for them all and support them unequivocally. But the homeowner's and the coach's comments were unwelcomed reminders that people were constantly viewing me through the lens of my race -- even when I just wanted to be a home renter, or a hockey player. He was inducted into the school's athletic hall of fame in 1994. Sign up for Stathead Hockey - first month free. You sort of never felt like you were different. The Nordiques didn't have a farm team that year, so he was sent to play for the Nova Scotia Voyageurs, one of the Montreal Canadiens' farm teams. "Tony McKegney showed me it was possible for someone like me to play in the NHL," future Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla said in author Cecil Harris' book, "Breaking The Ice, The Black Experience in Professional Hockey." "He set the example. McKegney, a Montreal native who was raised in Sarnia by his adoptive family, was drafted by the Sabres with the 32nd overall pick in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. Only once has he played in fewer than 60 of the regular seasons 80 games. Jarome Iginla gave me a very nice compliment when he said he felt he was at home on the ice and in the school yard, because he could say, Hey, Tony McKegney, hes playing in the NHL. He felt like he belonged on a hockey rink because I was out there. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. Obviously, I know Im on the back 9 - if you want to compare it to golf. The key is for him to keep working.. When the last road trip started, I thought about how meaningful it would be to end the season with a goal total that was a round number. Enter Search Term. The next season, his agent Art Kaminsky told him that must have meant the Nordiques wanted to keep him, so he went into training camp intent on making an impression. Not a lot from opposing, players, but more so from fans, that they just couldnt handle the fact that the pure white sport, was being dominated by a black kid and that was me. So, I reached out. The Buffalo Sabres recently unveiled a partnership with local artist Edreys Wajed in honor of Black History Month. He became a standout in hockey while playing junior, scoring 135 points in 66 games in 1976-77. Hockey made me gave me all the confidence in the world.". Will the Sabres make some moves today to improve their post-season chances? But I know my brother took a lot more abuse than I did because I saw it. Coming into the next season, he thought he was a shoo-in to make the team. Brent Jarrett played with him in Kalamazoo, Mich.,that season. And I know they weren't alone in their thoughts. 2023 Getty Images. 20 Sabres Tony Mckegney Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images All News Archival Browse 20 sabres tony mckegney stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Tony McKegney erased any doubt that a black player could be a prominent goal-scorer in the NHL. You have permission to edit this article. I remember the reporter asking me about growing up in a town where there were only two Black families among 50,000 people. He was coaching the Pickering Panthers, a Junior B team, when he suspended four players for breaking a rule and got four replacements from a lower-level team. Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Tony McKegney, 1958-02-15 Montral, QC, CAN Canada. Position: LW Shoots: Left. Please contact us. I ignored that coach, of course. I was trying to convey something that I think is still true today: Sports can be the common denominator that brings people together. My mother and father -- who adopted me from an orphanage in Montreal, and who happen to be white -- built a hockey rink in our backyard every winter, where I'd skate with my siblings. They were there for me for the most part. Former NHL forward Tony McKegney has been charged with impaired driving on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. SN: When you were playing hockey as youngster, there werent many black faces for you to see when you watched NHL games on Saturday nights. He has no evidence, he says, but he figures race had something to do with it. "They always came up with their hardest stuff, their elbows and what-not, and tried to punish me.". Today we look at former NHL forward Tony McKegney. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). And there was a ton of it, ugly stuff. Another referee determined he made a kicking motion and gave him a match penalty. All Rights Reserved. When you and your teammates compete together, practice together, eat together, and grow up together, you start to see people for who they are. Of course, I also thought about the bonus clause in my contract, which promised $15,000 if I happened to score 40 goals (that was a lot of money in those days). That's where he met Guy Carbonneau, who was in his first full professional season. So what does Sabres GM Kevyn Adams do this week? - Verification Badge on your profile, Post a scouting report/trivia/player comment in English (visible here). McKegney was born in Montreal, but was adopted by a white family in Sarnia, Ont. He has a copy of a newspaper article following a game in Rochester, N.Y., that mentions a fan who heard people yelling the N-word at him all night. Saunders, a right-winger, played 10 games for the Quebec Nordiques in 1979-80 and 1980-81. This Birthday in Buffalo Sports History: Tony McKegney. Season Players Videos. Willie [ORee] had a good thing. Search instead in Creative? It's a big deal that Grant, Willie, and now Jarome have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. The hockey portion and the support from teammates and my parents and other hockey parents all the way along got me through it. He would like for both to be able to remember their father in an NHL uniform. Tony McKegney (r.) with brothers Mike (l.) and Steve in front of their house in Sarnia, Ontario in 1970. If my career took some pressure off of him, or anyone who looks like us, I'm very proud of that. SN: Trevor was able to persevere. He believes the colour of his skin is part of the reason he didn't. It's also available for football, basketball and baseball. These brave athletes are actively changing hockey culture for the better. It is the 10th NHL season for McKegney, who will be 30 on Feb. 15, and one that he would like to make his best. He was assigned to the Syracuse Firebirds, one of the Nordiques' farm teams, where he became a fan favourite. An error has occurred while trying to update your details. And the NHL has done a great job with helping. I always loved the game, but I didn't see myself reflected in it. Most historical data provided by Dan Diamond and Associates. - Premium Design on your profile page (optional) He retired from the NHL in 1991 with 320 goals and 639 points. Saunders was part of a wave of black players who debuted after Willie O'Ree became the first black player in the National Hockey League in 1958. And that was the Buffalo Sabres. "I loved the game, but the game didn't love me.". He is not dating anyone. The conversation about black players in hockey is often a binary one even during Black History Month. Im sure it affected me. McKegney was supposed to play in the WHA for the Birmingham Bulls, but the team illegally voided his deal after fans in Alabama threatened a boycott. Saunders scored twice in his debut, and it quickly became clear to Bassin he should have been playing at a higher level. Sabres Host Lightning in Saturday Matinee. People had a certain amount of respect for us athletically.. He is 64 years old. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Hockey players like Akim Aliu, Mark Fraser, and Matt Dumba are just a few of the guys using their voice in meaningful ways. They started out with walker-type things out on the ice, and then they graduated to the point where they were scrimmaging, McKegney said. It was wintertime and my dad had floodlights out there. The sport that Saunders loved so much, the sport he says shaped him into the person he has become, has also broken his heart many times. Statistics of Tony McKegney, a hockey player from Montreal, PQ born Feb 15 1958 who was active from 1973 to 1993. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. For more, check out this Q&A with McKegney & Sportsnet: While its we celebrate the historic achievements of Black players throughout Sabres history, its equally important to celebrate the Black players in the NHL today, including several with current or former ties to the Buffalo Sabres organization. But while Saunders was playing the role of helping others, he believes the Habs didn't really have any incentive to help him, since the team had its own players to develop. Enter your email address to get a new one. Caught off balance, his foot went flying in the air. Its a very expensive sport, and its more of a suburbia sport, McKegney said. All rights reserved. I've always considered it a great compliment to play a small part in Jarome's story. To see your localized preferences, please enable geolocation services in your browser settings. You get one kick at the can, as they say, in life. Tony was adopted by the McKegney family when he was an infant. My older brother, Mike, was drafted in the NHL, first black player ever drafted by the Montreal Canadians. In this article, we covered Tony McKegney's net worth, wiki, bio, career, height, weight, pics, family, affairs, car, salary, age, facts, and other details in 2022. I was at a Queens University hockey game. After playing for Pickering, Saunders got a full scholarship to Western Michigan University and played there for four years. Go beyond the basics. ST. LOUIS (AP) _ If not for an early twist of fate, Tony McKegney would probably not be plying his talents in a sport that is essentially all white. Saunders says it's tremendous. BIOGRAPHY. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. Tony McKegney has not been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame. They had talks about what to do when the racist taunts would inevitably begin don't react, don't let them get to you but sure enough, when his son was a teenager, in the late '90s, an opponent called him the N-word on the ice. Most recently in the IHL with San Diego Gulls.
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